May 08, 2012

Celebrating James' Birthday with Auntie Miranda's Grapefruit Cake

(Photo below: James demonstrating his "Dexter knife skills".)

After tweeting one night that grapefruit-flavored cake sounded "awful", as usually happens with my crazy family of foodies, the decision was made that we had to make it, bake it, and try it. Auntie Miranda volunteered her time and James volunteered his birthday--win/win!

After reading through several recipes, Auntie used her own baking skills to create her own version based on elements from different recipes and her own experience.

Our prounouncement: Delicious! Just like orange, lemon, or lime, grapefruit is just a twist, so to speak, on the citrus genre.

Thanks, Auntie, for introducing us to this new dish and for sharing your recipe!

Note: Please excuse the phone pics--forgot my camera.

Auntie Miranda's Grapefruit Birthday Cake

In mixer bowl, whip:

5 egg whites until stiff

In separate large bowl, combine dry ingredients:

1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking pwoder

1/2 tsp salt

In separate bowl, beat together liquid ingredients until smooth and light:

4 egg yolks

3 Tbsp water

1/3 cup cooking oil or melted butter

4 Tbsp fresh grapefruit juice

1 Tbsp fresh grapefruit zest

1 1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Prepare 2- 9" round cake pans by spraying liberally with cooking spray and dusting with flour or using an all in one baking spray (found at the grocery where the cooking sprays are) that has the oil and flour in one step.) Set aside.

Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients by hand until lumps are all smoothed out. Fold in 1/3 of the egg whites to lighten the texture of the batter and then gently fold in the rest of the egg whites until batter is homogenous.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until tops spring back to touch or tooth pick comes out clean.

Grapefruit Frosting:

Using paddle attachment if available to incorporate less air, cream togetherr: